Automatic feeder



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. K. ALDRICH AUTOMATIC FEEDER Filed Feb. 23. 1926 June 7 1927.

June 7 1927.

L. K. ALDRICH AUTOMATIC FEE ER riled Feb. 25 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l [IT/7M? ATTORZZZ? Patented June 7, 1927. i

UNITED, PATENT OFF-ICE.

neman. xyngntnmen, OET-S-IZQNEY, orno. v I

,AUTOMATIGFEEDER. i

. Application.filed February 23,;1926. Seria1.No.-89,875.

The invention relates to .an automatic Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section feeder for sheet material. illustrating the construction of theauxiliary 50 ,The objectof the present invention is ,to suction nozzles. I improvev the construction of automatic feed- Fig. 4f is a detail View of the bushing 5 ers for sheet material or especially theflauwhich forms the air-tight connection betomatic feeder shown and described; in Pattween the main suction nozzle and them'ain ent No. 1,5 1G,184, granted. to me July 1 1, suction hose. 1 55 1925,.and to increase the pick-up area of the Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view suction nozzle of the said patent and to equip of one of the auxiliary suction nozzles. I the automatic feeder thereof with auxiliary In the accompanying drawing in which nozzlesadapted to assist the'centra'lormain illustrated the preferred embodiment of the nozzle in winding'the 'sheetand enable the invention ldesignates' the main suction t entire front edge of the sheet to-be positively nozzle of the automatic pick-up mechanism. gripped as it is. moved slightly. backwardly The main suction nozzlel'which is substanand upwardly to form the loop and \vindit. tially segmental or sector shaped is mounted In feeding largesheets it has been found to on a transverse shaft '2 and is operated simibe a great advantage to pick up the entire lar to the centrally arranged suction nozzle 65 front edge of the sheet. This prevents the shown and described in 'the aforesaid patent front edge from breaking. and in-some cases= and has the mechanism for operating the 20. from turning underas the sheet moves for shaft 2 both for rotat ng and swinging the wardlv and also positively winds the sheet same is similar to thatfshown and described and performs the operation with greater cerin the aforesaid patent, and illustration of 7a tainty than when a sheet is lifted at a single the same inthe, present application is point, r deemed unnecessary. The improved struct is also an object of the invention 'to tureshown and described in the present provide simple, practical and efficient means application is designed to be applied to the for creating vacuum in the auxiliary nozzles automatic feeder of the saidpatent'and to 7 and for automatically discontinuing the 'besubstituted for the suction nozzlefshowu vacuum in the said nozzles after the sheet has and described therein. The main centrally been winded and started forwardly. arranged suction nozzle 1 is a double suc- \Viththese andother objects in view the, tion nozzle and is provided with anarcuate invention consists in the construction and series ofports 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 but the 39 novel combination and arrangement of parts .number of ports in the series may be varied hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the as will be readily understood. Each of the accompanying drawings and pointed out in suction ports of theseries consists of a pair the claims .hereto appended, it :b'eing unof passages arranged in parallel' n'i as .derstood that various changes in the form, clear-1y illustrated in Fig. 1 of1 the tli'a.v g5 proportion and minor details of construcings and the two passagesof each suction tion, within the scope of the claims, may be port are connected-at the top by transresorted to without depa-rtingrfrom the verse passage having an outlet at one side spirit or sacrificing any ofjthe advantagesof ofthe'double suction nozzle as clearly shown the invention. i; in Fig. 1 of'the'drawing. The transverse 9e In the-drawings; connecting branch of thefirst suction port.

f Figure 1 is a verticalsectional View" of the 3 of the double nozzle is indicated at 9 and esfpick-up portionof an automatic feederconthe transverse connecting passages of ,the

structed in accordance Withjthi's invention. suction ports of the double suction nozzle Fig.2 is a side elevation of thelmainzsucare indicated at 10, 11, 12 13 and 14 in tion nozzle. V I H 'iFig.zoflth'edrawings. The'double'suctiou nozzle has an increased pick-up area by reason of the two sets of suction passages and the first suction port 3 of the double suction nozzle is connected by flexible hose 15 with auxiliary suction nozzles 16 mounted on the shaft 2 and rigid with the double suction nozzle and movable in unison with the same. The double suction nozzle 1 is tapped. at 17 in line with the parallel passages of the first suction port 3 to receive short metallic tubes 18 preferabl constructed of brass but any othersuita le mas terial may of course be employed and the said tubes 18 form convenient couplings ornipples for the connection of the inner ends of the hose sections 15 with the first suction port of thedouble suction nozzle. The hose sections 15 are preferably curved or arched as shown and their outer ends are connected by metallic tubesl9 with suction ports 20 of the auxiliary suction nozzles 16. The suction ports of the double nozzle are preferably of uniform diameter throughout the major portion of their length and are enlarged at the lower ends as shown and the auxiliary suction nozzles which have their ports 20 arranged in transverse alinement with the first suction port of the double suction nozzle are equipped at the lower ends of the ports 20 with yieldable suction cups2l having enlarged lower portions and provided with tubular upper portions 22 which are fitted in the lower ends of the suction ports 20 of the auxiliary suction nozzles. The lower paper engaging peripln eral edges of the suction nozzles are curved and the auxiliary nozzles have their curved edges. recessed or cut away at 23 at the front ends of the said edges to receive the yieldable suction cups 21 which are adapted to pick up an uneven surface withgreater facility than steel owing to the resiliency of the rubber cups. The metal sleeves 19 which are similar in construction to the metal sleeves 18 are tapped into the upper portions of the auxiliary nozzles at 24. The auxiliary and main nozzles are provided at the top with integral bearing sleeves or eyes 25 and 26 to receive the shaft 2 and they are adjustably secured to the said shaft i the said hose section was removed. This will enable one of the hosesections to be doubled or'arranged in substantially horse 'shoe shape for connecting the tubes 18 to maintain the suction in the passages of the first suction port. The auxiliary nozzles may then be arranged out of the way by swinging them on the shaft and securing them in such out of the way position by the set screws 27. The auxiliary nozzles preferably consist each of a web portion flanged at the bottom to form a curved foot 29 and enlarged at the front portion at 30 to provide sufiicient metal to contain the suction port 20 and to enable the metal tube V19'to be laterally offset from and clear the web or body portion of the auxiliary nozzles.- Any suitable construction may of course be employed.

The double suction nozzle is provided at one side with a segmental enlargement 31 presenting a smooth flat bearing surface to a bushing 32 consisting of a wood bushing saturated with oil to form a suction contact member for-connecting the main'suction hose 33 with the double suction nozzle. The bushing 32 is provided with a central opening 34 .haTing a metal tube .37 tapped into it at 38 for connection with the main suction hose33; The sleeve 35 is provided with a reduced stem 39 and it is mounted in a bracket 40 having spaced arms 41-1 and 42 provided with openings for the reception ofthe sleeve and r the stem 39. The stem receives a coiled spring 413 which is interposed between the arm 42 and the sleeve for yieldably maintaining the bushing 32 in contact with the double suction bushing. The bracket is also, provided with a slotltthrough which passes the metal tube 37. andivhich is of suflicient size to )ermit the necessary movement of the sleeve to maintain the bushing in proper contact with the double suction nozzle. The bracket is maintained in a fixed. position with relation to-the double suction nozzle and in practicewill preferably be carried by the shaft of the said. patent which carries the shaft on which the; suction nozzle is mounted. The bracket may be mounted in any desired manner and partakes of all the movements of the doubleiand auxiliary sue-I tion nozzles except the partial rotary moves; ment of 'the same on theshaft by which the portsare controlled.

The shaft 2 which carrles thesuotion nozzles as explained in the aforesaid patent lee iii)

and communicating withthe passage thereof and'slidable in the bracket for coupling the suction hose to the sleeve.

7. In an automatic feeder of the class described, a substantially segmental suction nozzle having an arcuate series of ports provided with laterally extending passages, means for connecting the suction nozzle with a suction hose, said means comprising a relatively fixed bracket having spaced portions, a sleeve guided in one of the portions and provided with a stem slidably mounted in the other of the said portions, said sleeve being provided wit-h a passage, a sprii mounted on the stem and engaging the bracket and the sleeve for urging the stem towards the suction nozzle, means carried by the sleeve for fitting against the nozzle to form an air-tight connection therewith,

- said means including a yieldably mounted tubular member and a head carried by the said member and fitted against the suction nozzle and consisting of an absorbent material saturated with a lubricant.

8. In'an automaticfeeder of the class described, -a substantially segmental suction nozzle having an arcuate series of ports provided with laterally extending passages, means for connecting the suction nozzle with a suction hose, said means comprising a relatively fixed bracket having spaced portions, a sleeve guided in one of the portions and provided with a stem slidably mounted in the other of the said portions, said sleeve being provided with a, passage, a spring mounted on the stem and engaging the bracket and the sleeve for urging the stem toward the suction nozzle, means carried by the sleeve for fitting against the nozzle to form an air-tight connection therewith. said means including a bracket, a sleeve slidably mounted in the bracket and provided with passage, a tubular member mounted on the sleeve and forming a coupling for connecting the stem w1th the suction hose, a

wooden bushing carried by the sleeve and fitting against the suction nozzle to form an air-tightconnection and aspring for-yieldably maintaining the sleeve in engagement with the suction nozzle. 1

9. In an automatic feeder of the class described, a main segmental suction nozzle pro vided with a series of separate suction ports, approximately segmental auxiliary suction nozzles having a single suction port connected with one of the suction ports of the main suction nozzle and means for successively connecting the ports of the main suction nozzle with a suction hose whereby the auxiliary suction'nozzles will be automatically out off from the suction hose when the said means is carried out of communication with the port to which the auxiliary suction nozzle is connected. 1

10. An automatic feeder. of thezclass described, a main suction nozzle having a series of suction ports, an approximately segmental auxiliary suction nozzle having a single suction port located at the front of the auxiliary suction nozzle and connected with one of the suction ports of the mainsuction nozzle, said auxiliary suction nozzle having a curved paper supporting face extending in rear of the said single suction'no-zzle, and means for successively connecting the ports of the main suction nozz'le with a suction hose, said auxiliary suction nozzle being automatically cut oil from the suction hose when the suction port of the main suction nozzle to which itis connected is carried out of communication with the suction hose.

11. In an automatic feeder of the class described, a main double suction nozzle provided with a series of suction ports each hav- .ing a pair of suction passages extending to scribed, a main double suction nozzlepro vided with a series of suction ports, auxiliary suction nozzles located at opposite sides of the main suction nozzle in spaced relation with the same and each having a single suction port removablehose sections detachably coupled to the. double suction nozzle and the auxiliary suction nozzles, and connecting the single suction port of both auxiliary suction nozzles with one of the suction ports of the double suction nozzle, and means for successively connecting the suction ports of the double suction nozzle with a suction hose- '13. In anautomatic feederfof the class described, a suction. nozzle having a series of suction ports, meansv for successively connecting the ports with a suction hose, auxiliary suction nozzles, a pair of nipples carried by the main suction nozzle and communicating with one of the ports thereof, auxiliary suction nozzles each provided with a single port and having a pro ect1ng nlpple communicating therewith, and hose sections connecting of suction ports and an auxiliary suction nozzle having :a single port connected with one of the ports of the main suction nozzle,

said auxiliary suction nozzle being provided at itsperipherywith a yieldable sheet engaging-cup and having a curved paper supporting face extending rearwardly from a point adjacent the said single port of the auxiliary suction nozzle.

15. In an automatic feeder of the class described, a main suction nozzle and an auxili- 5 ary suction nozzle having a single port connected with the main suction nozzle, said.

auxiliary nozzle being provided at its periphery with a recess and having a yieldable suction cup mounted in the suction port and provided with a sheet engaging head project- 10 ing in rear of the said recess.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LESTER KYLE ALDRICH. 

